Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo!

One of my responsibilities at my internship is to write wish stories about various wish kids. Here's one that I wrote recently. I loved interviewing this little girl's mom. This story is so sweet and inspiring.

There is no one else in the world like Jane*. She is truly a miracle. Jane was diagnosed with 10q22 10q24 trisomy. This is a condition where a child is born with three sets of the tenth chromosome instead of only two. This causes all sorts of health problems, and most children with this condition don’t live to see their first birthday. But Jane is now 11 years-old, and the only 11 year-old with this particular strain 10q trisomy in the world as far as Jane and her family know. So Jane’s family is enjoying every moment they have with her, and she gives her family endless joy and strength with her ever-abiding smile.

There hasn’t been much research on Jane’s condition because the survival rate is so low. So though Jane’s condition is a bit of a mystery, there’s nothing elusive about Jane’s personality. She’s a girly-girl through and through. She loves make-up, and pretty dresses, and especially princesses. So when Jane had the opportunity to have a wish granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Utah, her wish was to go to Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida and meet all the Disney Princesses.

While at Disney World, Jane’s princess wish was taken one step further. Not only did Jane get to meet all the Disney Princesses, but she also got to dress up as a princess and have a princess photo shoot on the Disney Strip. Jane got the royal treatment. She got to dress up in her very own Cinderella dress and have her hair, make-up, and nails done. After her princess make-over, Jane had her pictures taken with all the Disney Princesses while everyone on the strip watched. It was a heart-warming experience for not only Jane and her family, but also everyone that passed on the strip and saw this sweet little girl being treated like royalty.

Jane’s mom said that this was just the vacation they needed to regroup and continue to face whatever new challenges this condition may inflict on Jane and the whole family. It’s Jane’s sweet smiles that give Jane’s mom the strength to face any challenge. As she said: “If Jane can smile through the pain, so can I.” She looks forward to Jane’s smile every morning. And for that week, Jane and her family didn’t feel stressed or worried, they could just relax and enjoy they time they had as a family and enjoy seeing the beautiful smiles on Jane’s face as she experienced her dream come true.

(* Name changed for child's privacy)

An Ode to Peppermint Oil

I got sick over the weekend. Just a nasty flu bug, but I'm still not at 100%. The worst part was the fever. My head pounded, my eyes stung, my muscles and joints ached, and my skin hurt to the touch. Then the fever decided to settle into my lower-back, hips, and knees. I still feel a little like an old, hunched-over, 80 year-old woman. And although I was able to keep food down (unlike my poor mom) I was so nauseous that everything made me want to hurl. My salvation on that count was Peppermint Oil.

It's a beautiful thing. You just pour a little in your hands and cup your hands over your mouth and nose. Just the smell of the oil is enough to aleviate the nausea. According to Young Living Farms (a local maker of pure essential oils in Mona, Utah) these are just some of the maladies that peppermint oil can help aleviate:

Asthma, bronchitis, candida, diarrhea, digestive aid, fever reduction, halitosis, heartburn, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, indigestion, menstrual irregularity, headaches, motion sickness, nausea, tumor growth, respiratory infections, shock, itchy skin, throat infections, and varicose veins. Other Uses: This oil may help arthritis, indigestion, depression, skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis), food poisoning, headaches, hives, hysteria, inflammation, morning sickness, nerve regeneration, rheumatism, may elevate and open sensory system, toothaches, and tuberculosis.

So 3 big cheers for Peppermint Oil!